Mauritanian police disperse protests, arrest deposed president's son

2008-10-06 Mauritanian police fired tear gas and used batons to disperse an anti-coup demonstration Sunday (October 5th) near the main hospital in Nouakchott, international press reported. Protesters shouted slogans against the military dictatorship and in support of ousted President Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdellahi before paramilitary gendarmes used force to end the rally. Local news agency ANI reported concurrent protests at several other locations in Nouakchott, including a mosque.

Mauritanian opposition National Front for the Defence of Democracy (FNDD) called Sunday's protest despite a new ban on all demonstrations announced last week by Prime Minister Moulaye Ould Laghdaff. The protest comes one day before a deadline set by the African Union (AU) for Mauritania to reinstate the former president or else face economic sanctions and isolation.

In related news Sunday, Mauritanian police arrested the son of the deposed president, Journal Tahalil reported. Ahmed Ould Cheikh Abdellahi and his wife were released later that day but authorities confiscated their car, reportedly claiming it was state property.

Baby found alive in mud days after deadly Algeria floods

2008-10-06 Algerian rescue teams responding to last week's Ghardaia floods found a baby who miraculously survived four days in a pool of mud, local and international press reported on Sunday (October 5th). The baby is reportedly in good health and authorities are looking for the parents. Flooding in the M'zab valley region (600km south of Algiers) has killed at least 41 people and damaged more than 1000 homes. Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia, visited Ghardaia on Sunday and listened to citizens’ concerns over the heavy material losses, APS reported. Also Sunday, UAE’s Red Crescent Authority announced plans to dispatch urgent relief to the flood victims, adding that goods will be purchased from local markets in Algeria to ensure swift delivery.

Algeria protected from global crisis, finance officials say

2008-10-06 Algeria is not only safe from the global financial crisis, it will actually benefit, local and international press quote Financial Minister Karim Djoudi as saying Sunday (October 5th). Reasons for his assessment include the sharp reduction of the national debt, the refusal of the government to make the national currency totally convertible and the sovereign wealth fund allowing the country to fund its own development projects, El Watan reported.

Also speaking Sunday, Bank of Algeria Governor Mohamed Laksaci annosnced that Algeria's foreign exchange reserves, boosted by hydrocarbons' sales, stood at $136.7 billion by the end of July, up from $110.18 billion at end of 2007.

Algeria's Medelci: Western Sahara talks to resume soon

2008-10-06 Algerian Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci believes the fifth round of negotiations between Morocco and the Polisario will resume this month, London-based Arabic newspaper Asharq al-Awsat reported on Monday (October 6th). During an interview held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in New York, Medelci added that he expects UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to announce the appointment of former US Ambassador Christopher Ross as his personal envoy to the Western Sahara. He also described relations between Algeria and Morocco as good, but admitted that the Western Sahara conflict still hinders their further normalisation within the framework of the Arab Maghreb Union.

Marrakech Film Festival to honour Chahine, Osfour

2008-10-06 The eighth Marrakech International Film Festival (FIFM) will begin November 14th, MAP reported on Sunday (October 5th). This year's edition will pay tribute to the late Egyptian filmmaker Youssef Chahine. A special section will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Moroccan cinema and recognise the father of the seventh art in Morocco, Mohamed Osfour.